Quick-load multiple shotgun shell clip

ABSTRACT

A multiple shotgun shell clip including a base having mounting structures integrally incorporated therein and two parallel spaced apart sidewalls integrally formed with the base. The sidewalls are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shells. The upper edges of the sidewalls terminating in five arcuate indentations with indentations in one sidewall being disposed coaxially with indentations in the other sidewall. Each of the indentations including an arc equal to or slightly greater the diameter of a shell. A first of two adjacent indentations in the two sidewalls defining a first set of four shell retainers and a second two adjacent indentations defining a second set of four shell retainers. A fifth middle indentation defines a shell-sized space between the first and second set of four shell retainers and either of the middle fifth indentations defining a retainer for a make-ready shell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multiple shotgun shell clip designed for quick-loading a shotgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time there are many different competitions or rapid shooting sports in which shotguns are used. In some of these competitions or events, many targets are fired at with the number hit and the speed in which they are shot at being a primary goal. Generally, the number of targets in a single competition or event exceeds the total number of shells that can be loaded into a shotgun. Also, in many such competitions or events the shotgun chamber must be empty at the start. Thus, quickly loading the shotgun with an initial shell, hereinafter referred to as a make-ready load, and still having multiple rounds at-the-ready becomes a real challenge.

Many different prior art devices designed to hold multiple shotgun shells (sometimes referred to as shotgun shell caddies) have been suggested. Through long use it has been determined that each of these prior art devices has at least one drawback or deficiency.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip designed for quick-loading a shotgun.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip which carries at least eight shotgun shells in two groups of four plus a make-ready load or shell.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip formed as an integral unit with multiple mounting or wearing accessories or accommodations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment a multiple shotgun shell clip is provided including a base having one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated therein and two parallel spaced apart sidewalls integrally formed with the base. The sidewalls extend in a common direction at ninety degree angles from opposite edges of the base and are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shotgun shells. An upper edge of each of the sidewalls terminates in five arcuate indentations with indentations in one of the two sidewalls being disposed coaxially with the indentations in the other of the two sidewalls. Each of the five indentations of each of the two sidewalls includes an arc equal to or slightly greater than a semicircle with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a shotgun shell the clip is designed to hold. A first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a first side of the clip define a first set of four shotgun shell retainers and a second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a second side of the clip define a second set of four shotgun shell retainers. A middle fifth indentation of the five arcuate indentations in each of the two sidewalls defines a shell-sized space between the first set of four shotgun shell retainers and the second set of four shotgun shell retainers. Either of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls define a retainer for a make-ready shell in frictional engagement.

To further achieve the desired objects and advantages of the present invention a fully loaded multiple shotgun shell clip is provided including a base having one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated therein and two parallel spaced apart sidewalls integrally formed with the base. The sidewalls extend in a common direction at ninety degree angles from opposite edges of the base and are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shotgun shells. An upper edge of each of the sidewalls terminates in five arcuate indentations with indentations in one of the two sidewalls being disposed coaxially with the indentations in the other of the two sidewalls. Each of the five indentations of each of the two sidewalls includes an arc equal to or slightly greater than a semicircle with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a shotgun shell the clip is designed to hold. A first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a first side of the clip define a first set of four shotgun shell retainers and a second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a second side of the clip define a second set of four shotgun shell retainers. A middle fifth indentation of the five arcuate indentations in each of the two sidewalls defines a shell-sized space between the first set of four shotgun shell retainers and the second set of four shotgun shell retainers. Either of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls define a retainer for a make-ready shell in frictional engagement. The first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls retaining a first set of four shotgun shells, the second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls retaining a second set of four shotgun shells, and one of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls retaining a make-ready shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple shotgun shell clip according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the multiple shotgun shell clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the multiple shotgun shell clip as seen from the lower end of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the multiple shotgun shell clip as seen from the upper end of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the multiple shotgun shell clip as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the multiple shotgun shell clip of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the multiple shotgun shell clip as illustrated in FIG. 2 with additional mounting or wearing accessories or accommodations affixed thereto;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the multiple shotgun shell clip of FIG. 1 from a side opposite that illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the multiple shotgun shell clip of FIG. 1 with shotgun shells in place according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to FIG. 1 which illustrate an example of a new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip 10 designed for quick-loading a shotgun in accordance with the present invention. It will be understood that while the preferred embodiment is sized to receive and carry 12 gauge shotgun shells, the device of the present invention can be sized in the fabrication process to accommodate other gauges as desired. Clip 10 includes a base 12 extending integrally into opposed upright walls 14 and 16. As can be seen in the various views, base 12 melds smoothly into walls 14 and 16 all of which are formed as a single integral unit that can be easily and efficiently injection molded from some plastic material, such as polymer or the like.

Because clip 10 is formed as a single integral unit with all the shell-holding and mounting features incorporated, it can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, preferably by injection molding. Also, through this manufacturing process each clip 10 will be virtually identical so that use of one or more clips 10 in speed shooting sports or competition can be easily mastered.

Turning to FIG. 5, it can be seen that walls 14 and 16 are constructed much thicker (e.g. twice as thick) from approximately midway up the side to the upper edge. By reducing the thickness for the lower portion of each wall 14 and 16, as well as the thickness of base 10, the weight of clip 10 can be reduced substantially while still maintaining the strength required. Also, the increased thickness provides a firmer frictional engagement for shotgun shells retained in the clip. Specifically, multiple shotgun shell clip 10 is designed to securely but removably hold eight shotgun shells in two groups of four plus a make-ready load or shell. To provide this function, the upper edge or surface of wall 14 is formed with five arcuate indentations 14 a through 14 e extending downwardly (or opening upwardly) from the upper extremes. Also, the upper edge or surface of wall 16 is formed with five similar arcuate indentations 16 a through 16 e extending downwardly (or opening upwardly) from the upper extremes. Each of the indentations 14 a, 14 b, 14 d, 14 e and 16 a, 16 b, 16 d, and 16 e extend in approximately a semicircular arc having a radius slightly smaller than the radius of the shotgun shell they are designed to hold (e.g. a 12 gauge shotgun shell). “Slightly smaller” is defined as sufficient to frictionally engage a shotgun shell and hold the shell under normal conditions but allowing an operator to quickly disengage the shell. Further, the included arc will be from approximately the diameter of the shotgun shell they are designed to hold (i.e. semicircular) to slightly greater than semicircular. If, for example each indentation is semicircular, the upper extremes of the indentation will frictionally engage a shell on opposite sides at a diameter of the shell (i.e. at 180°). If the indentation is “slightly greater than semicircular” the upper extremes of the indentation will frictionally engage the shell on opposite sides beyond the diameter (e.g. 181°).

Walls 14 and 16 are parallel and spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shotgun shells (e.g. one quarter inch) and indentations 14 a/16 a, 14 b/16 b, 14 d/16 d, and 14 e/16 e are disposed coaxially so that a shotgun shell frictionally engaged in indentation 14 a and a shotgun shell frictionally engaged in indentation 16 a extend along a common axis. Also, indentations 14 a and 14 b are positioned as close together along wall 14 as practical while still providing sufficient material to frictionally hold shotgun shells therein. Similarly, indentations 14 d/14 e, 16 a/16 b, and 16 d/16 s are positioned close together. Thus, indentations 14 a/16 a and 14 b/16 b cooperate to frictionally engage four shotgun shells in a first group and indentations 14 d/16 d and 14 e/16 e cooperate to frictionally engage four shotgun shells in a second group.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 and 8, it can be seen that each indentation 14 a, 14 b, 14 d, and 14 e has a retaining surface 20 a, 20 b, 20 d, 20 e, respectively, extending upwardly along the outer surface of wall 14 and extending at least partially across the associated indentation. Retaining surfaces 20 a, 20 b, 20 d, and 20 e form a stop or limit to how far a shotgun shell can be positioned or moved axially within clip 10. That is the retaining surfaces limit axial movement of the shells. Thus, to load eight shotgun shells in clip 10, the head or discharge end of a first shell is engaged in indentation 14 a in abutting engagement with retaining surface 20 a. The brass end of a second shell is engaged in indentation 16 a with the head or discharge end abutting the brass end of the first shell. Similarly, third and fourth shells are engaged in indentations 14 b and 16 b, fifth and sixth shells are engaged in indentations 14 d and 16 d and seventh and eighth shells are engaged in indentations 14 e and 16 e. Clip 10 with two sets of four shotgun shells properly engaged in the indentations is illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that indentations 14 c and 16 c are positioned between 14 b/14 d and 16 b/16 d, respectively. Also, it should be noted that indentations 14 c and 16 c are approximately semicircular and approximately the same diameter as indentations 14 a and 16 a. In this preferred embodiment indentations 14 c and 16 c are formed slightly deeper than the adjoining indentations to provide an easily discernable position for an initial or make-ready load. Assuming a make-ready load is engaged in either indentation 14 c or 16 c, it can be easily and quickly removed as an individual shell. Once the make-ready load is removed, indentations 14 c and 16 c provide sufficient space (i.e. a shell-sized space approximately the diameter of one shell} for the gun operator to easily extend fingers around either the first group of four shells or the second group of four shells.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the upper and lower surfaces of base 12 are illustrated in detail and include a variety of ways in which clip 10 can be easily and conveniently carried on the body of a shooter or operator. As a first example of structure for conveniently carrying clip 12, a pair of parallel spaced apart slots 25 and 26 are designed to receive a belt or the like threaded therethrough. Alternatively, four molle web clips 30 are provided for a different mounting choice. In addition a screw hole 32 and slots 34 for bolts or screws used in alternate mounting devices (see FIG. 7) are provided. Potential external mounting devices might include, for example, Bladetech TEK LOK, or Safari Land ELS structures. While a single clip 10 is shown and explained, it is interesting to note that a shooter could easily mount three clips 10 on a belt, which would result in carrying a full box of shotgun shells (25 shells) when the three clips are fully loaded and a make-ready-load is positioned in the middle space of one of the clips.

Thus, a new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip designed for quick-loading a shotgun is disclosed. The new and improved multiple shotgun shell clip carries at least eight shotgun shells in two groups of four plus a make-ready load. Further, the multiple shotgun shell clip is formed as an integral unit with multiple mounting or wearing accessories or accommodations. Because the multiple shotgun shell clip is formed as a single integral unit with all the shell-holding and mounting features incorporated, it can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, generally by injection molding which results in virtually identical clips so that use of one or more multiple shotgun shell clips in speed shooting sports or competition can be easily mastered.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 

1. A multiple shotgun shell clip comprising: a base having one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated therein; two parallel spaced apart sidewalls integrally formed with the base, the sidewalls extending in a common direction at ninety degree angles from opposite edges of the base, the two sidewalls are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shotgun shells; an upper edge of each of the sidewalls terminating in five arcuate indentations with indentations in one of the two sidewalls being disposed coaxially with the indentations in the other of the two sidewalls, each of the five indentations of each of the two sidewalls including an arc equal to or slightly greater than a semicircle with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a shotgun shell the clip is designed to hold, and a first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a first side of the clip defining a first set of four shotgun shell retainers and a second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a second side of the clip defining a second set of four shotgun shell retainers, a middle fifth indentation of the five arcuate indentations in each of the two sidewalls defining a shell-sized space between the first set of four shotgun shell retainers and the second set of four shotgun shell retainers; and either of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls defining a retainer for a make-ready shell in frictional engagement.
 2. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first two adjacent indentations and the second two adjacent indentations in a first of the two sidewalls each further includes a retaining surface at least partially across the associated indentation.
 3. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated in the base includes two parallel spaced apart belt receiving slots.
 4. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated in the base includes four molle web clips.
 5. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two parallel spaced apart sidewalls are constructed much thicker from approximately midway up the sidewall to the upper edge of the sidewall to provide a firmer frictional engagement for shotgun shells retained in the clip.
 6. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the middle fifth indentations of the two parallel spaced apart sidewalls extend toward the base a greater distance then the first two adjacent indentations and the second two adjacent indentations.
 7. The multiple shotgun shell clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the integrally formed base and two parallel spaced apart sidewalls are formed of injection molded polymer.
 8. A multiple shotgun shell clip comprising: a base having one or more mounting structures integrally incorporated therein; two parallel spaced apart sidewalls integrally formed with the base, the sidewalls extending in a common direction at ninety degree angles from opposite edges of the base, the two sidewalls are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of two shotgun shells; an upper edge of each of the sidewalls terminating in five arcuate indentations with indentations in one of the two sidewalls being disposed coaxially with the indentations in the other of the two sidewalls, each of the five indentations of each of the two sidewalls including an arc equal to or slightly greater than a semicircle with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a shotgun shell the clip is designed to hold, and a first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a first side of the clip defining a first set of four shotgun shell retainers and a second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls adjacent a second side of the clip defining a second set of four shotgun shell retainers, a fifth middle indentation of the five arcuate indentations in each of the two sidewalls defining a shell-sized space between the first set of four shotgun shell retainers and the second set of four shotgun shell retainers; either of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls defining a retainer for a make-ready shell in frictional engagement; and the first two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls retaining a first set of four shotgun shells, the second two adjacent indentations in each of the two sidewalls retaining a second set of four shotgun shells, and one of the middle fifth indentations of the two sidewalls retaining a make-ready shell. 